Device and method for detecting channel state

Abstract

The present invention proposes a device and method for detecting the channel state. The detecting device first monitors a channel within a predetermined duration so as to receive a plurality of signals transmitted on the channel, and then determines whether part of the plurality of signals possess periodicity. If part of the plurality of signals possesses periodicity, then the detecting device determines that the channel is interfered. Even if there is no or less data traffic over one or more wireless networks which occupy the channel, the detecting device and method provided by the present invention are capable of detecting the existence of the one or more wireless networks, and determine that the channel is interfered, so as to avoid potential interference. In addition, the cost to detect whether a channel is interfered will be reduced effectively by using the detecting device and the detecting method according to embodiments of the present invention.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to wireless communication technology, especially to a lighting system using wireless communication technology.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Wireless connection is becoming a very important connectivity mechanism for lighting control systems due to its ease of deployment, testing, commissioning and use. However, there is no dedicated wireless band for the transmission of lighting control signals in the current lighting control system. The ISM (Industrial, Science and Medical) band at 2.4 GHz is often used by many commercial lighting applications due to its worldwide free license. Besides lighting applications, the 2.4 GHz ISM band is also used by many other applications, e.g. Internet connection, building automation, and personal local area network, which use WiFi™, Bluetooth™ or Zigbee™.[0003]The 2.4 GHz ISM band may be used by various systems at the same time, therefore, when the wireless lighting control system occupies a certai...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]It would be advantageous to provide a device and method for detecting the existence of a wireless network when there is no or less data traffic over the wireless network.

[0019]In addition, the cost to detect whether a channel is interfered will be reduced effectively by using the detecting device and the detecting method according to embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, by applying the detecting device and the detecting method to the wireless lighting control system, interference can be avoided when transmitting lighting control signals and the design cost of the wireless lighting control system will be reduced.

Problems solved by technology

Even though a wireless network could be easily detected with the help of the dedicated terminal for the wireless network, e.g. an IEEE 802.11 WLAN could be easily detected with the help of the IEEE 802.11 WLAN terminal, the cost involved in the detection of the existence of the wireless network by the dedicated terminal would be very high.

More particularly, in a large scale wireless lighting control system, if each lighting position is equipped with a dedicated terminal based on the IEEE802.11 protocol, the design and deployment of the wireless lighting control system will cost a lot.

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